US 5,549,134 AGranted

Diaphragm valve

AssigneeMarcValve Corporation

InventorsRonnie A. Browne, Marc Baril

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Abstract

A sanitary valve comprising a valve body, a diaphragm and an actuator is provided. The valve body includes a cavity or bowl which defines a fluid chamber. A hole for passage of fluid into or out of the chamber is located in the bottom of the cavity. A second hole is located in the side of the cavity. Passages connect the holes to connection ports on the outside of the valve body. The ports, passages, holes and fluid chamber provide a fluid path through the valve. The diaphragm is mounted over the cavity and includes in its center a boss or raised area which extends into the cavity. The boss controls the flow of fluid through the valve. The size of the boss is slightly larger than the hole in the center of the cavity. The boss has a thickness selected so that the boss closes the center hole when the diaphragm is flexed towards the cavity. The actuator, which is mounted over the backside of the diaphragm, is connected to the center of the diaphragm and flexes the diaphragm as necessary to open and close the center hole to control the fluid flow through the valve.

Claims34

Dependent claims

A fluid valve, comprising:

a valve body defining (a) a bowl-shaped cavity having a curvilinear, concave interior surface, (b) a first fluid passage through said body in communication with said cavity at a first hole in the center of said cavity, and (c) a second fluid passage through said body in communication with said cavity at a second hole in a side of said cavity;
a diaphragm attached to said valve body and spanning said cavity, said diaphragm having first and second opposite surfaces wherein said first surface is substantially planar and said second surface confronts said cavity and includes a raised edge around the circumference of said second surface, a raised boss at the center of said second surface, and a web portion between said boss and said raised edge, wherein said boss is positioned over said first hole, has a size larger than said first hole, and has sufficient thickness to close said first hole when said diaphragm is flexed toward said hole, and wherein said diaphragm includes a transition area on said second surface which gradually transitions the thickness of said diaphragm from the thickness at said boss to the thickness at said web portion;
and
an actuator connected to said first surface of said diaphragm for flexing said diaphragm to open and close said first hole.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/552,253Filed 2 Nov 1995 · continuation
Priority: 27 May 1994
Granted: 27 Aug 1996
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

F16K 11/207
Operated by separate actuating members: with two handles or actuating mechanisms at opposite sides of the housing
F16K 7/16
Arranged to be deformed against a flat seat: the diaphragm being mechanically actuated, e.g. by screw-spindle or cam
F16K 7/17
Arranged to be deformed against a flat seat: the diaphragm being actuated by fluid pressure
Y10T 137/4259
Cleaning or steam sterilizing: with separate material addition